Remote-control counterbalance tilting joint for umbrellas



'July 5, 1949- R. A. RUSSELL 2,475,406

REMOTE-CONTROL COUNTERBALANCE TILTING JOINT FOR UMBRELLAS -F'iled Dec. 26, 1947 Happ/s 4 a 2 5 w 52 w 1.5%? w y@ e 2 y mi 7 lll Pu l.. W a nw III Y ...|rl|'rff.. .4 w @064 V 3 .Je il Patented July 5, 1949 REMOTE CONTROLl TILTING JOINT This invention relates particularly to Joints for large umbrellas of the type adapted to be set up outdoors in stationary positions, at least temporarily, and commonly known as garden umbrellas and beach umbrellas. These structures frequently are provided with means for tilting the umbrella canopy with respect to a center post or stall which carries the canopy and is adapted to be thrust into a socket, or into the earth or sand, or otherwise held upright.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel and relatively simple joint structure for umbrellas of the indicated type, and, at the same time, to furnish such a joint structure which is highly eillcient and serviceable in use as well as comparatively economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide an easily operable tilting joint or tilting` head by means oi which the opened umbrella canopy may be easily tilted to any required angle and by means of which the joint will be automatically locked in adjusted position and held positively against any swinging movement either upward or downward.

An additional object is to provide such a tilting head wherein strong spring means or the equivalent is employed to counterbalance the weight of the canopy and render easy the return of the canopy to upright position.

Further objects and the various features of novelty will become apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment oi the invention is disclosed by way oi exempliication.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the joint of this invention as applied to supporting means for a conventional umbrella canopy;

Fig. 2 is principally a vertical section on an enlarged scale through an umbrella supporting post provided with the tilting joint, portions of the post members being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but taken at right angles thereto as indicated lby the broken line 8 8;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the positions of the joint parts when the post members are in aligned position,

As shown in Fig. 1, a lower post member I carries above it a stall' member I2 whose upper end is adapted to support any conventional or preferred retainer I I to which umbrella ribs I4 are pivotally connected, conventional braces I COUNTERBALANCE FOR UMBBELLAS Ray A. Russell, Santa Ana, Calif. Application December 26, 1947. Serial No. 794,080

is claims. (ci. 13s- 46) being pivoted upon the ribs Il and having their lower ends pivted upon any suitable sliding spreader ring I8 disposed about the stafl' member I2. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the staff member I2 includes an upper tubular post Il in whose lower end is secured a plug I8 having a lower extension I8a which is mounted upon a pivot pin I8 carried in spaced ears 20 at opposite sides of the extension I8a. The ears 20 are formed upon the upper end of a lower plug 2| whose lower extremity is secured in a lower hollow or tubular post 22. Preferably the plugs I8 and 2l are appropriately shouldered so as to abut in ush relationship against the ends of the respective tubular posts I1 and 22, the outermost surfaces of the assembled parts being cylindrical and i'ormed upon a uniform diameter over which the ring I8 might slide if required and if the braces I5 are of proper length and are properly positioned for that purpose. The securing of the plugs I8 and 2| in the tubular posts I1 and 22 may be effected through ashrunk fit, and in the form illustrated pins 23 are employed to insure retention of the relationships. 1

The portion of the plug 2| within the upper end of the lower hollow post 22 is provided :with a central axial bore 2| through which extends a shaft 25 which is conveniently in the form of a section of rod adapted to reciprocate axially and be guided in the bore 24. Upon the upper end of the shaft 25 there is pivotally mounted as by means of a pivot pin 28 an actuating link 28 whose upper'end is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 29 between portions 30 formed as a bifurcated lower end of the extension I 8a of the plug I8. The plug I8 is adapted to be swung upon the pivot pin I8 between its positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. and the link 28 assumes correspondingly angular positions as illustrated.

As shown, it is preferred that the pivot pin 28 be offset from the axis of the plug I8 in order that it may exert a positive pulling action when the plugs I8 and 2| are axially aligned and positively maintain them in such relationship as indicated in Fig. 5. To accommodate the link 28 when the parts are in their mentioned aligned position, the plug 2| is provided with a vertically disposed slot 24a (Fig. 4) constituting a lateral extension of the bore 24 and providing a sloping wall 3i against which the corresponding edge of the link 28 may bear when the Iparts are in the position of Fig. 5. To insure proper alignment of the plugs I8 and 2I and the tubular posts' I1 and 22 when the parts are disposed in the aligned relationship of Fig. 5, the plug 2I is analice provided between the ears with an upstanding stop 32 whose inner vertical wall is adapted to be engaged by corresponding inwardly offset striking shoulders a on the edges of the bifurcations 30. Thus, when the parts are drawn into the relationship indicated in Fig. 5, by downward movement of the shaft 25, proper align- -ment is assured.

an appropriate retainer ring 3l pinned or otherwise fixed upon the shaft 25.

In order to reciprocate the shaft 25, and thus cause it to act as an operating stem for the required movement of the umbrella canopy on top of the tubular post i1, means is connected with the lower end of the shaft 25 for manual movement as required. Such means includes a sliding centering block 35 which is tted within the hollow post 22 and is movable therein after the fashion of a piston. This block 35 is fixedly secured to the shaft 25 by any means desired, such as that described below. Actuation is eected through a collar 36 which is rotatably disposed upon the outer surface of the hollow post 22 and it is held against sliding movement by means of flxed bearing rings 31 at its opposite ends, these rings being retained against longitudinal movement by being shrunk tted thereon, or welded, or otherwise as deemed appropriate. The collar 38 is provided on its inner wall with wide threads 38 of relatively shallow pitch which serve as cam grooves and receive drive rollers 40 mounted upon the outer ends of driving pins 4I carried in the centering block 35 and extending through vertical slots 42 in corresponding wall portions of the hollow post 22. The slots 42 serve as guides for the pins 4I and also act to prevent any tendency toward rotary movement of the centering block 35 and the shaft 25. One of the pins 4I passes through the shaft 25 to secure the block 35 thereon, as seen in Fig. 2.

By manual rotation of the collar 36, the threads 38 cause the drive rollers 40 to move vertically and, as a consequence, cause the centering block 35 and the shaft 25 to move vertically in accordance with the direction of rotation of the collar 36. Thus, when the shaft 25 is moved upward from its position shown in Fig. 5, it serves as an operating stem and causes the link 28 to drive laterally against the pivot pin 29 and thereby swing the plug i8 and the upper tubular post l1 toward the position shown in Fig. 2, and considerably beyond that position if desired. Such movement is cushioned by the helical spring 33 which tends also to maintain stability of the adjustment. Reverse rotation of the collar 36 draws the parts toward the position of Fig. 5 and eventually binds them in the aligned position shown in Fig. 5. The spring 33 thus serves as actuator means to assist such return movement and also to aid in maintaining the aligned relationship.

Inasmuch as variations in construction may be made within the scope of the generic invention disclosed, it is intended that the claims cover all such structures as fall within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an umbrella support: a hollow lower post member; pivot means carried at the upper end 4 y of said post member; an upper post member mounted upon said pivot means and having rigidly connected therewith an extension disposed below said pivot means in approximate alignment with said upper post member and adapted to be brought into approximate alignment with said lower post member; reciprocable shaft means disposed in said hollow lower post member; actuating means on said lower post member to engage and reciprocate said shaft means in the hollow portion thereof; and a connection between said shaft means and the lower end of said extension of said upper post member to swing the latter on said pivot means upon operation of said actuating means for moving said upper post member into an inclined position and for pulling said upper post member into alignment with said lower post member.

2. An umbrella support as in claim 1 wherein said connection includes a push-and-pull linkage plvotally connected to said extension and to said shaft means.

3. A combination as in claim 1 including spring means disposed in said lower .post member and connected with said lower post member and said shaft means to oounterbalance said upper post member and a canopy carried thereby.

4. In combination in an umbrella support; a hollow lower post; pivot means carried in the upper end of said post; an upper staff mounted `on said pivot means and adapted to carry an umbrella canopy; an extension on the lower end of said staff and disposed axially thereof and below said pivot means; shaft means disposed in said hollow post to reciprocate therein; guide means in the upper end of said .post and receiving and guiding said shaft means as it reciprocates; a link attached to the upper end of said shaft means and plvotally attached to the lower end of said extension to transmit motion between said shaft means and said staff; and means on said post for locking saidshaft means against reciprocation in said hollow post.

5. A combination as in claim 4 including resilient means between said post and said shaft means to counterbalance the movement of said staff and canopy and urge said stall.' toward a position aligned with said post.

6. A combination as in claim 4 wherein said locking means includes screw means rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said post to adjust said shaft means longitudinally of said post and also lock said shaft means in adjusted position.

7. In an umbrella support: a hollow lower post member; pivot means carried at the upper end of said post member; an upper post member mounted upon said pivot means; reciprocabie shaft means disposed in said hollow lower post member; an extension attached to said upper post member and extending below said pivot means for substantial alignment with said lower post member;'actuating means for said shaft means and including a cam threaded collar ro- -tatable but longitudinally fixed upon said lower post member, and means connected with said shaft means and engageable with the cam threads of said collar for reciprocation of said shaft means upon rotation of said collar; and a connection between said shaft means and said extension on said upper post member to swing the latter on said pivot means upon operation of said actuating means.

8. In combination in an umbrella support: a hollow lower post; pivot means carried in the upper end of said hollow post member; an upper staff mounted on said pivot means and adapted to carry an umbrella canopy; an extension on the lower end of said stai! and disposed axially thereof and below said pivot means; shaft means disposed in said hollow post to reciprocate therein; guide means in the upper end of said post and receiving and guiding said shaft means as it reciprocates; a link connecting the upper end of said shaft means to said extension to swing said staff on said pivot; and actuating means including screw means rotatably and non-slidably mounted on said post and connected with said shaft means to reciprocate and lock the latter in adjusted position.

9. In combination in an umbrella support: a lower post member; pivot means carried at the upper end of said member; upper staff means swingingly mounted on said pivot means and adapted to carry an umbrella canopy; an extension rigidly attached to said upper stall means and extending below said pivot means for substantial alignment with said lower post member; longitudinally movable means carried by said post mem-ber and movably connected with said. extension to move longitudinally, simultaneously with swinging movement of said upper stall' means; an actuable means on said post member for locking said longitudinally movable means in various positions of adjustment to retain said staff means in corresponding positions of angular adjustment.

l0. A combination as in claim 9 wherein said actuable means comprises a cam grooved member mounted upon an intermediate portion of said post member and connecting means between said longitudinally movable means and said cam grooved member and in engagement with the cam grooves thereof whereby to eect actuation of said longitudinally movable means and to eilect locking thereof in said positions o1' adjustment.

1l. A combination as in claim 9 including spring means between said longitudinally movable means and said lower post member to counter-balance said upper stall' means and a canopy carried thereby through said movable means and said extension.

12. A combination as in claim 9 including a push-and-pull link having one end connected pivotally to the lower end of said extension and having its other end connected to the upper end of said longitudinally movable means, said lower post member being hollow and said link and extension lying therewithln when said lower post member and said upper stan' means are aligned.

13. A combination as in claim 9 wherein said lower post member is hollow and contains said longitudinally movable means, the combination including coil spring means about said movable means connecting said lower post member to said longitudinally movable means to counterbalance said upper stai means when in any adjusted position of inclination.

14. In combination in an umbrella support; a hollow lower post member; pivot means carried at the upper end of said hollow member; an upper post member swingingly mounted on said pivot means and adapted to carry an umbrella canopy; shaft means disposed in said hollow post member to reciprocate therein; means pivotally connecting the upper end of said shaft means to said upper post member to transmit movements between spring means within said hollow post member near the upper end thereof and acting between said hollow post member and said shaft means; and actuable means on said hollow post member for locking said shaft means in various positions of adjustment.

15. A .combination as in claim 14 wherein said spring means is a coil spring disposed about said shaft means and connected therewith to energize said shaft means.

16. A combination as in claim 10 wherein said lower post member is hollow and said longitudinally movable means is a shaft disposed within said member, the lower end of said shaft being provided with pins laterally projecting through longitudinal slots provided in said hollow post member, the outer ends of said pins being provided with bearing means traveling in said cam grooves.

RAY A. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,315,260 Lancaster Mar. 30, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,086 Great Britain June 3, 1839 50,718 Austria Nov. 10, 1911 

